Material feeding apparatus



1956 w. P. NIBLICK, SR 3,286,819

MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wa /ferP. /V/b//c/r, Jr.

INVENTOR.

W J MA BY a Nov. 22, 1966 w. P. NIBLICK, SR 3,286,819

MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VENT0R.

WE ATTORNEYJ BYW .... m H x United States Patent 3,286,819 MA'IERIALFEEDING APPARATUS Walter P. Niblick, Sr., 8803 S. Main, Houston, Tex.Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 491,722 9 Claims. (Cl. 198220) Thepresent invention relates to amaterial feeding apparatus, and moreparticularly, relates to various improvements in an oscillatory feeder.

Material feeders are employed in many processing systems fortransporting material from one processing station to another and forfeeding material at a uniform or regulated feed control rate. Thepresent invention is generally directed to various improvements in anoscillatory material feeder.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a materialfeeder, for example only such as for pecans, cherries, corn, coffeebeans by which the material may be moved from one processing station toanother such a grader, sorter, or packages at a regulated or uniformfeed control flow.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory feeder which has overcome the usual bearing problems for anoscillating shaft by providing shockmount bearings for supporting theoscillating shaft which will absorb any radial or transverse shock ofthe oscillating shaft.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory feeder wherein the oscillating shaft is surrounded by anoverrunning clutch encircled by a sleeve which is in turn inserted intoa larger overrunning clutch, the two clutches being rotatable inopposite directions so that when the shaft is oscillated the sleeve isrotated in one direction to provide even wear in the bearing support.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory material feeder in which the vibrating electric motorincludes an electromagnet having a core and a pole piece secured to theshaft to be oscillated, an armature which is supported from theelectromagnet by a pair of leaf springs which provide increasedstability and which may include adjusting means for adjusting the gapbetween the pole piece and the armature to vary the power output of themotor without varying the frequency of operation. v

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory feeder which is provided with a tray having a bottomdirected horizontally downwardly but at an angle less than that at whichself feeding would occur.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of anoscillatory material feeder tray having a lip adjacent the dischargeside of the tray which projects outwardly and upwardly to retard selffeeding and which includes a notch extending towards the bottom of thetray to provide self cleaning of the tray.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory feeder having an adjustable support for the feeder tray forbalancing the centrifugal forces on the feeder as it is oscillated.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of amaterial feeding tray having an upwardly projecting rib on the bottom ofthe tray surface to increase the feeding movement, particularly forsticky products.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of anoscillatory material feeding apparatus having a tray in which the bottomis directed at an angle downwardly, a vertical wall connected to theouter periphery of the tray bottom and including a material dischargeopening adjacent to lower side of the bottom, the vertical wall forminga rounded interior connected to the bottom for ease in cleaning, a lipprojecting outwardly and upwardly from the bottom adjacent the dischargeopening, the lip including a notch at the lowest point on the lip andextending to the bottom for self cleaning of the bottom, and meansconnected to the bottom for oscillating the bottom thereby feeding amaterial from the discharge opening.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of a presently preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention given for the purposes ofillustration and taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings,where like character references designate like parts through the severalviews, and where:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the feeder tray of thepresent invention,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top elevational view of the feeder tray,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the vibratory electric motor of thepresent invention,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modifiedtype of bearing support, and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of the armature support and adjustment ofthe present invention.

Referring now the drawings, particularly FIGURES 1 and 4, the referencenumeral 10 generally indicates the oscillatory feeder of the presentinvention and generally includes a feeder tray 12 and suitable motormeans 14 for supplying an oscillating movement to the tray 12. Theapparatus 10 is suitable for placement in any material processing systemfor receiving incoming material which is to be transported and fed at aregulated flow control to another portion of the process such as in agrader, sorter, or packager.

While any suitable feeder tray 12 may be used, preferably, the feed tray12 generally includes a bottom 16, a sidewall 18 and a projecting lip20. The bottom is directed at an angle directed downardly, for instance,in the range of three degrees to twelve degrees depending upon thematerial to be fed. That is, a smaller deviation from the horizontal,for example, three degrees, provides a lower rate of feeding for a fixeddiameter size of the bottom 16. Of course, the feeding rate can beincreased by either increasing the diameter of the bottom 16 orincreasing the deviation angle of the bottom downwardly from horizontal.And, of course, the deviation from horizontal will be increased in thematerial being fed is sticky. However, the downward tilt of the bottom16 should not be so great as to cause self feeding from the feed tray 12which would occur even without oscillation of the tray 12 at too largedeviation angles.

The vertical sidewall 18 is connected about the outer periphery of thebottom 16 and includes a discharge opening 22 adjacent to the lowestedge of the bottom 16 for providing a discharge opening. Preferably, thevertical wall 18 is connected to the bottom 16 by a rounded interiorcorner 24 so that the feed tray 12 may be easily and thoroughly cleanedwhich is an important requisite in handling food products.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 and 3 the lip 20 includes a notch 26 in thelower part of the lip and extending to the bottom 16 so that the feedingtray 12 will be self cleaning. That is, as the tray 12 is oscillated itcan be emptied of material which will normally flow outwardly anddownwardly toward the lowest portion of the bottom 16 and the lip 20.While the lip 20 performs the function of retarding self-feeding of theapparatus such as might be caused by external vibrations, which arefrequently present in processing operations, the notch 26 which extendsto the bottom will allow removal of all of the material in the tray 12as it is fed downwardly towards the notch 26.

If desired, a rib 28 may be provided extending approximately from thecenter of the bottom 16 and radially outward towards the top of thebottom 16. The length of the rib 28 is sized so that the rib will fit onthe interior of a feeding tube 30, shown in dotted outline, whichnormally supplies the input feed to the feed tray 12. Preferably, therib 28 has concave sides 32 so as to direct the incoming feed out to theouter periphery of the bottom 16 and away from the center of the bottom16 as the greatest oscillatory movement and consequently the materialfeed from the tray 12 is around the sides of the bottom 16. Of course,the rib 28 may be omitted if desired.

As can best be seen from FIGURE 2, the crossrsection area of the feedertray 12 is not symmetrical and therefore it is preferable to provide asuitable adjustable'support for balancing the tray 12 as it isoscillated on a shaft 34 from the motor means 14. Thus, a suitableadjustalble support 36 may be provided having a notch 38 therein whichis generally horizontally directed so'that the shaft 34 may be connectedto the support 36 by a suitable nut 40 at the centrifugal center ofgravity of the tray 12 to balance the centrifugal forces on the feedtray 12. Also, if an extension is added to the lip in use the tray canbe easily balanced by the adjustable support to compensate for thenonsymmetrical forces 'Which may be added.

While any suitable motor means 14 may be utilized for providing anoscillating movement at the desired. frequency to the tray 12, it ispreferable to use a vibratory motor such as described in my Patent No.2,859,362 but including several improvements thereto. Thus, referringnow to FIGURES 4 and 5, the motor means 14 generally includes a frame 40for providing a support for. the oscillating shaft 34 at opposite ends.As an oscillating shaft is .the most difiicult type of movement toprovide satisfactory bearings for, one feature of the present inventionis the provision of resilient shockmounts which are secured to the shaft34 at opposite ends and supported by the frame 40. The shockmounts 42may be secured to the shaft 34 by any suitable means such as pins 44.Thus, a shockmount, such as manufactured by Lord, will absorb the radialand transverse shock to the oscillation of the shaft 34 and the loadingof the tray 12.

Electromagnet core 50 is provided having a coil 52 wound thereon. Anarmature S4 is supported from the electromagnet by a pair of leafsprings, preferably fiberglass Scotch-ply springs 56. energized by analternating current the armature 54 is alternately attracted andreleased by the .pole pieces of the core 50. The entire electroma'gnetand armature structure is secured to the shaft 34 so that the shaft 34is subjected to the oscillatory movement when the electromagnet isenergized. Preferably, the shaft 34 is secured by a press fit into abore 60 of the electromagnet and armature assembly at a modal point sothat the only movement transmitted to the shaft 34 is radial oscillatorymovement and the electromagnet and armature structure may be supportedfrom the shaft 34. Referring to FIGURE 7, it was noted that the armature54 was supported by a pair of leaf sp'nn-gs at opposite sides of thearmature and electromagnet core. The use of two springs providesstability by keeping the armature 54 aligned with the poles of the core50 and preventing it from whipping sideways. Furthermore, the springsmay easily Ibe replaced with different sized springs to change thefrequency of operation. springs 56 includes suitable adjusting means foradjusting the gap between the pole and the armature 54. Thus, openings64 may be provided in the bracket 62 which are Thus, when the coil 52 isIn addition, a bracket 62 connected to the leaf 4 sized larger than thebolts 66 which secure the armature 54 to the bracket 62 so that thearmature 54 may be adjustably secured to the bracket 62 to vary the gap68 between the armature and the pole pieces of the magnetic core 50 forsuitably adjusting the power output and operation of the electric motormeans.

In some applications it is desirable to maintain the radial center ofthe oscillating shaft 34 by securely mounting the oscillating shaftfirmly in rigid bearings; Normally, however, standard bearings have ashort life when used with an oscillating shaft. Referring now to FIGURE6 the shaft 34 is shown supported at either end by a clutch and bearingassembly providing even wear in the bearing support. Thus, a firstoverrunning clutch. 70 encircles the shaft 34, preferably a clutch andbearing assembly such.

running clutch 70 through which the oscillating shaft 34' I oscillates,it is evident as long as the shaft 34 oscillates there will be constantrotation of the sleeve 72 in one direction. This action will preventwhat is known as birelling in standard roller bearings on oscillatoryshafts. That is, the sleeve 72 will be forced to rotate therebyproviding even wear in the support mechanism. For example, assuming thatthe shaft 34 oscillates and the overrunning clutch 70 engages when theshaft rotates counterclockwise, the clutch 70 and the sleeve 72 willalso rotate counterclockwise. Since, however, the second overrunningclutch 74 clutches in aclockwise directi-onand is generally stationarilysupported by the frame 40 it will allow the overrunning clutch 70 andthe sleeve 42 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction but not in aclockwise direction on each oscillation of the shaft 34 in acounterclockwise direction thereby continually rotating the inner clutch70 and the sleeve 72 in a counterclockwise direction to provide evenwear on the bearing assembly.

In addition, the bearing is suitably held in place such as by providinga lip on one side of the bearing assembly, and a washer '82, which isheld in place by a snap ring 84. Since the lower, bearing assembly 69 issimilarly supported the shaft 34 will be securely supported for bothvertical and oscillating movement.

In operation, the motor means 14 is suitably actuated by controls whichare conventional and which form no part of the present invention tooscillate the feed tray 12 about the shaft 34 to provide the desiredflow rate. The adjustin-g means 36 is adjusted to balance thecentrifugal forces acting on the tray 12 as it oscillates.

Material is suitably fed to the feed tray .12, sudh as by incoming feedtube 30, which does not form part of the present invention, or isotherwise deposited in the feed tray adjacent the upper end of thebottom 16. The oscillating movement of the tray 12 throws the materialtowards the outer periphery of the bottom 16 on each side of the trayand down the bottom towards the discharge opening 22. The lip 20 willnorm-ally bold material in the tray 12 and prevent self feeding andfeeding due to external vibration. However, the oscillating movement ofthe tray 12 will cause the material to flow to the lowermost portion ofthe bottom 16 and over the lip 20. The rate of oscillation is regulatedby the motor means and suitably controls to provide a uniform orregulated speed control flow out ofthe tray 12. And the rib 28 will movethe incoming material to the outer edge of the bottom 12 where theoscillating motion is greatest and is particularly useful with stickyproducts to insure a uniform flow rate out of the feed tray 12.

At the end of a product run the tray may continue to vibrate and flowthe remaining fluid downwardly adjacent the edge of the lowermost partof the edge of the lip 20 towards the notch 26 and out of the tray sothat the tray will clean itself. And of course, when it is necessary tomanually clean the tray the rounded corners 24 between the vertical wall18 and the bottom '16 may be easily cleaned to prevent any build-up ofdeposits in sharp corners of products which would be deleterious tofood.

And of course, in the motor means 14, the armature 54 may be suitablyadjusted by its connection to the bracket 62 to adjust their gap 68 toprovide the desired amount of power output from the electromagnet andarmature assembly and the double leaf springs 56 will advantageouslyprovide a stability of operation and movement as the armature isattracted to and released .from the electromagnetic poles of the core50. It is noted that this method of power adjustment does not change thefrequency of operation. And of course, the shockmounts 42, shown inFIGURE 4, will securely hold and absorb any radial and transverse shockwithout being subject to failure as ordinary bearings. And for a morepositive radial stability of the oscillating shaft 34, when desired, thedouble and opposed ovenruning clutch assembly of FIGURE 6 may beutilized which will securely hold and will evenly distribute the wear inthe bearing assembly to provide an extremely long life structure.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as otherinherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes inthe details of construction, and arrangement of parts can be made whichwill readily adjust themselves to those skilled in the art and which areencompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. A material [feeding apparatus comprising:

a bottom directed at an angle downwardly,

a wall connected to the periphery of the bottom and including a materialdischarge opening adjacent the lowest side of the bottom, said wallforming a rounded interior connection to the bottom for cleana lipprojecting outwardly and upwardly from the bottom adjacent the dischargeopening,

said lip including a nitch at the lowest point on the lip, said notchextending to the bottom for self cleaning of said bottom, and

means connected to the bottom for oscillating said bottom tor feeding amaterial [from the discharge opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oscillating means is adjustablyconnected in a horizontal plane for balancing the centrifugal forces onthe apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including:

a rib extending radially Efrom adjacent the center of the bottomoutwardly towards but spaced trom said wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom is directed downwardly atan angle in the range of three to twelve degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rib includes sides concaveshaped in cross section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for oscillating saidbottom includes:

a frame,

a shaft,

a bearing support at each end of said shaft including,

a first overnunning clutch surrounding said shaft,

a sleeve surrounding and secured to the exterior of said first clutch,

a second overrunn'ing clutch encircling said sleeve,

said overrunning clutches adapted to rotate in opposite directions whenthe shaft is oscillated whereby the sleeve is rotated in one direction:to provide even Wear in said support,

an electromagnet including a core and pole secured to said shaft,

an armature resiliently supported from said electromagnet wherebyenergization of said electromagnet will oscillate said shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for oscillating saidbottom includes:

a trame,

a vertical shaft,

a resilient s'hockmount bushing secured to each end of said shaft andsupported from the frame, said shockmount bushings resilientlysupporting the shaft both vertically and oscillatory movement,

an eleotromagnet including a core and pole secured to shaft,

an armature,

two leaf springs connected between the electromagnet and said armaturefor supporting said armature adjacent said pole, and

adjusting means carried by the springs for adjusting the gap between thepole piece and said armature.

8. The improvement in an oscillatory feeder \pan comprising:

a bottom directed at an angle downwardly,

a vertically directed wall connected to the periphery of the bottom andincluding a material discharge opening adjacent the lowest edge of thebottom, a lip projecting outwardly and upwardly trom the bottom at thedischarge opening, said lip including a notch at the lowest point on thelip, said notch extending to the bottom for self cleaning of the bottom.9. The apparatus of claim 8 including: support means connected to saidbottom, said support means being adju-stably connected to the bottom ina horizontal direction for balancing the centrifugal forces on the panwhen it is oscillated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,209,900 10/1965Prutton 198-220 EVON c. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. E. AEGERTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A BOTTOM DIRECTED AT ANANGLE DOWNWARDLY, A WALL CONNECTED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE BOTTOM ANDINCLUDING A MATERIAL DISCHARGE OPENING ADJACENT THE LOWEST SIDE OF THEBOTTOM, SAID WALL FORMING A ROUNDED INTERIOR CONNECTION TO THE BOTTOMFOR CLEANING, A LIP PROJECTING OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOMADJACENT THE DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID LIP INCLUDING A NITCH AT THELOWERST POINT ON THE LIP, SAID NOTCH EXTENDING TO THE BOTTOM FOR SELFCLEANING OF SAID BOTTOM, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM FOROSCILLATING SAID BOTTOM FOR FEEDING A MATERIAL FROM THE DISCHARGEOPENING.